June 20, 2019
Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador, is pleased to announce $1,230,000 in infrastructure funding for Labrador through changes made to the Federal Gas Tax Fund. This investment will be spread among 22 communities, with projects being determined at the discretion of municipal governments.
These changes are a result of Budget 2019: Investing in the Middle Class, in which the Government of Canada proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address municipal infrastructure needs nationwide. This will double the total investment for 2018-2019. The Gas Tax Fund is a predictable, long-term source of funding provided twice a year to provinces and territories, who then channel the money to individual municipalities and First Nations communities. This increase in funding is intended to address short-term priorities and areas where infrastructure is falling behind. The Gas Tax Fund empowers municipal governments to direct funding to where it is most needed, based on their understanding of the unique priorities and demands in their community. Funding can be invested into projects that fall into the following 18 categories:
In Budget 2019: Investing in the Middle Class, the Government of Canada reaffirms our plan for real change. As the Member of Parliament for Labrador, I am especially pleased that the budget continues with these unprecedented and historic investments in infrastructure, environmental protection, skills training, internet connectivity, Indigenous initiatives, and health and social services across the Big Land. Across Labrador, increased investments through the Gas Tax Fund will help to fill gaps in much-needed infrastructure projects, ultimately working to make communities safer, better resourced and more accessible.
